Spark plug



C. A. SCHREIBER June 12, 1928.

SPARK PLUG Filed Feb. 21, 1927 INVENTOR BY M f ATTORNEYS Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES A. SCHREIBER, OF CEDAR LAKE, INDIANA.

SPARK PLUG.

Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,930.

My invention relates to improvements in spark plugs, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a spark plug which has a novel means for cooling the sparking terminal.

. A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which rotates the sparking terminal, thus preventing the collection of carbon thereupon.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which has novel means for automatically holding the sparking terminal, irrespective of its rotative movement.

' Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this applicatidn, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my de ice. Figure 2 is a sect-ion along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3, is a bottom plan view of my device.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a central insulating body portion or core 1 having a longitudinally extending opening 2 centrally disposed therein. The upper end of the core 1, see Figure 2, is provided with an arcuate-shaped recess 3 while the lower end of the core is provided with a seat 4.

The core 1 is provided with'an enlarged port-ion 5 which is in the form of an annular flange. The lower portion of the core 1 is reduced in size "t 6, thus forming a shoulder 7. A metal s ell 8 is disposed concentrio with the core 1 and provided with a gasket 9 which is disposed between the enlarged portion 5 and the shell, see Figure 2. A gasket 10 is disposed upon the enlarged portion 5. A ring-like nut 11 is provided with threads 12 which are adapted to enga e with threads 13 within the shell 8. As the nut 11 is moved downwardly within the shell 8, the core 1 is rigidly held in place.

sparking terminal 14 has a relatively large arcuate-shaped contact end 15 which tapers inwardly to a point where the terminal is integral with a valve 16. The shell 8 is provided with an outwardly extending annular sparking surface 15. A rod 17 is integral with the valve 16 and is provided with a helical groove 18. The rod 17 is disposed within the openin 2 and rovided with a threaded end 19 which is a apted to receive a ball 20 havin slots 21 cut therein. The ball 20 is provided with a flattened portion 22 which is adapted to cont-act with a lock nut 23. A hand screw or nut 24 is disposed upon the threaded portion 19.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be'readily understood. In use, the vacuum created in the cylinder, not shown, upon the intake stroke of the piston, not shown, will cause the atmospheric pressure to force the valve 16 downwardly as it passes through the helical groove 18 so that air will be admitted to the cylinder in close proximity to the sparking, terminal, thus insuring complete combustion of any carbon in that portion of the mixture. This tends to keep the sparking terminal 14 and the sparking surface 15 clean. An improvement in the present instance lies in the provision of the spiral groove which distributes the air or atmosphere in a circuitous path upon the sparking terminal'l4 and the sparking surface 15f. This movement of the atmosphere passing through the slots 21 and the groove 18 tends to rotate the rod 17 together with the sparking terminal 14. This movement of the sparking terminal 14 constantly changes the positions of the oints of contact upon the contacting sur ace 15, thereby preventing the shell adjacent the sparking surface 15 from becoming heated to an intense heat as would occur if the sparking terminal 14 was stationary.

In Figure 2, .the valve'16, the rod 17, and the ball 20 are shown in solid lines in their uppermost or closed positions, and in dotted lines in their lowermost or opened positions. This showing is somewhat exaggerated for the purpose of clearness. In reality, the device is approximately one-half the size of that shown in the drawings, and the movement of the valve 16, the rod 17, and the ball 20 is but a fraction ofan inch.

I claim:

1. A spark plug provided with a central core having a longitudinally extending central-opening therein, a metal shell disposed concentric with said core and provided with an annular sparking surface positioned beyond one end of said core, a nut for rigidly. securing said shell to said core, a sparking terminal having a relatively small arcuateshaped contact end positioned substantially adjacent the sparkin surface, a valve integral with said sparfiin terminal and dis posed in engagement wit a valve seat positioned adjacent the opening in said core, a rod integral with said valve and disposed in said opening, means carried by said valve for allowing air to pass through said opening whereby said sparking terminal will be rotated in a circuitous path and said sparking terminal together with said sparking surface cooled, said means comprising a ball having slots cut therein and receivable in an arcuate-shaped groove in the end of said core opposite said valve, said rod having ahelical groove extending from said valve around said rod and in communication with said slots, and means for locking said ball to said rod in any desired position.

2. A spark plug provided with an insulating core having a longitudinally extending opening therethrough, a conductor disposed in said opening, a valve secured to one end of said conductor for closing said opening, a sparking terminal integral with said valve, a metal shell disposed concentric with said core and provided with a sparking surface disposed substantially adjacent said sparking terminal, and a ball-shaped member disposed concentric with said conductor and adjustably secured thereto, said ballshaped member being provided with slots in communication with said opening for permitting air to pass through said opening when said valve is moved away therefrom.

3. A spark plug provided with an insulating core having a longitudinally extendin opening therethrough, a conductor disposed in said opening, a valve secured to one end ofsaid conductor for closing said opening, a sparking terminal integral with said valve, a metal shell disposed concentric with said core and provided with a s arking surface disposed substantially a jacent said sparking terminal, and a ball-shaped member disposed concentric with said conductor and adjustably secured thereto, said ballshaped member being provided with slots in communication with said opening, said conductor having a helical groove starting at said ball in communication with the slots therein extending around said conductor and terminating at a point in substantial alignment with said sparking terminal, whereby air may be directed from said slots through said groove to said sparking terminal.

CHARLES A. SCHREIBER. 

